Controversial comedy Little Britain is to return to UK screens 20 years after its original transmission.
The programme has been picked up by That’s TV, which will broadcast the show as part of its Christmas and New Year line-up.
“I am absolutely clear that Little Britain sets out to lampoon all forms of prejudice, the clue being in the name. We carefully consider the expectations of our audience and the episodes of Little Britain we are showing have been edited in collaboration with Matt and David. We’ve studied Ofcom’s research and are confident that all of our shows this Christmas comply with all Ofcom rules,” said That’s TV head of programming, Kris Vaiksalu.
The Matt Lucas and David Walliams vehicle made its debut on BBC Three in 2003 and went on to reach over nine million viewers following its move to BBC One in 2005. At the time The Observer called it “a beautifully observed sketch show whose characters perfectly capture the absurdities of suburbia”.
However, in recent years a sketch was labelled by regulator Ofcom as explicitly racist and outdated. It shows Walliams using racist language to describe an Asian student.
That’s TV will also show three Bread Christmas specials (1998, 1999 and 1990), The League of Gentlemen Christmas special (2000), Steptoe and Son Christmas specials (1973 and 1974) and After Henry Christmas special (1988).
